The programme plan

The programme plan has to be approved in writing by Mistra´s Managing Director. Unless Mistra has decided otherwise, this approval must be obtained before the programme can request disbursements of funds. Subsequently, the plan must be updated and submitted to Mistra for approval every year. The programme plan constitutes an annex to the programme contract, and without an approved plan the programme will not be able to obtain further funds from Mistra. The required structure of a programme plan and the annual update process are described below.

Structure of the programme plan

The programme plan should be structured according to the headings set out below. All the points stated under the different headings are to be covered. The programme board may stipulate additional requirements concerning the contents of the plan. The plan is to be written in English and should not exceed a total of 100 pages. Planned deliverables must be described in clear and tangible terms. By ‘planned deliverables´, Mistra means the ‘products´ of your research, which will be utilized by other researchers and/or the intended users. Remember that an activity or a report does not always constitute a deliverable in its own right, but may perhaps be a step on the way to a deliverable. The following are a few examples of deliverables:

• A scientific deliverable may, for example, be an article in a journal, a book, a model, or a synthesis of existing knowledge in a particular field. PhDs and licentiates are also scientific deliverables.
• A user deliverable may consist, for instance, of scientific data for use in international environmental negotiations, an accessible synthesis of current knowledge about how a natural resource can be managed, a prototype, or a test programme for assessing toxicity. Planned deliverables may be a result of the programme as a whole or of an individual project.

The programme plan should also contain an outline budget for the entire phase and an itemized annual budget for the programme as a whole and for all the component parts, drawn up in accordance with Mistra´s guidelines on financial reporting (see below). It is important that around 10 per cent of the programme´s funds are unassigned at the beginning of each phase, to provide a strategic reserve for the programme board. This puts the programme in a position to undertake activities which later prove to be important, but which could not be foreseen at the beginning of the phase. The plan for the final year of the programme should include a clear account of how the programme is to be wound up. See the section on preparing for the end of a programme for further information.

Outline of a programme plan

Introduction

• Programme title, programme board and programme director, and period for which funding awarded by Mistra.
• Summaries in English (2-3 A4 pages) and Swedish (2-3 A4 pages).
• Table of contents.

• Vision and objectives.
• Significance of the programme in terms of solving major environmental problems.
• Significance of the programme in terms of promoting Sweden´s competitiveness.
• Significance of the programme in terms of creating strong research environments.

• Synthesis of existing knowledge and how the proposed work relates to current international research.
• Theory, research design and methods common to the programme.
• Planned scientific deliverables at the programme level.

• Value of the research to intended users.
• User groups involved in the programme (including named individuals involved).
• Planned user deliverables at the programme level.

• Outline of programme structure, including any reference groups.
• Arrangements for collaboration, integration and synthesis within the programme.

• Skills, knowledge and qualifications of the applicant group, relevant.
• National and international networks of researchers and users linked.

• Planned scientific deliverables at the programme level, with timetable.
• Planned user deliverables at the programme level, with timetable.
• Planned scientific deliverables at the project level, with timetable.
• Planned user deliverables at the project level, with timetable.
• After the first year: Annually updated report on results delivered.

• Communication strategy to reach intended user groups and involve them in the programme.
• Communication plan, setting out relevant activities and timetable.
• After the first year: Annually updated report on activities undertaken.

• Mini-business plan.
• Handling of intellectual property rights, where relevant.
• Any agreements required, e.g. consortium or confidentiality agreements.

• Itemized annual budget for the programme and for all its component parts, drawn up according to Mistra´s financial reporting guidelines.
• After the first year: Annually updated report on financial outcome.

• The programme board should report on any deviations and modifications compared with the previous year´s programme plan, affecting either Part A or Part B.

Part B is to be updated every year

Results achieved and the budgetary outcome are to be reported. Any changes to earlier plans are to be presented and justified. An updated Part B is to be sent to Mistra no later than 1 December each year, unless Mistra has given advance approval for another submission date. The plan should be submitted both electronically and on paper. Mistra will notify you in writing before the end of each year whether the programme plan has been approved. The plan constitutes an annex to the programme contract, and without an approved plan the programme cannot request further disbursements of funds from Mistra.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the programme plan have to be updated every year?
Programmes constantly evolve, and the wider environment in which they operate changes. Programme activities and budget allocations may need to be adjusted in the light of such changes, and the programme plan needs to be updated to remain an effective management tool for the programme board and manager. In addition, Mistra wishes to receive ongoing reports on its programmes and their results, to ensure that they remain on track towards their objectives.

What is a ‘planned deliverable´
By ‘planned deliverables´, Mistra means the ‘products´ of your research, which will be utilized by other researchers and/or intended users. See the examples above, under the heading ‘Structure of the programme plan´.